Watford Fc 0-1 Crystal Palace - Play Off Final - 27/5/2013

We will own all our current players, soon.... and our academy matches Palace's.

 

At minimum. 52 and counting...

 

I've not got that impression. There are a lot of similarities with our clubs and I think similar fans expectations, makes it even more tight and indeed interesting.

Our defence is slow by the way - full backs are ok though.

 

You missed my post didn't you regarding the TRANSFER of registration to the club? A whole season of this has got very boring and this just highlights that people do not listen to fact but what the media have told them is true.

 

I'm not trying to get a quote guys at all. Just wanted to understand how the link to Udinese etc worked. After the bitter back and forth with Brighton it is nice to be playing a team where it is just about a football match and not years of feuding.

 

They own Udinese and they control everything that happens there. Words on a piece of paper regarding which club a player is technically contracted to don't matter. The assets are owned by our owners, and they can dispose/use them as they please. They are certainly not going to block us access to them because that would be akin to shooting themselves in the foot.

The one potential pitfall is if the player refuses to move abroad for a season. The players who have come to us are not playing for Udinese or Granada though (Udinese have a HUGE squad due to how the Pozzos conduct business), so have generally jumped at the chance to play regularly.

The players we currently have will all be here next season (most, if not all, signed on contracts) unless a silly offer comes in for any of them over the summer.

 

I did see that, and OK it is looked upon as you having bought the player for a year for them to then go back to the parent club after the year. However from what i have read this is not allowed in the Premiership - don't know whether it falls under the whole 3rd Party ownership thing or not? It also sounds like there may be plans to amend the rules to stop this controversy by either outlawing it or making it a lot more clear. I don't really care. You've done nothing wrong, Palace loaned two players from Inter last time we were in the prem for a season. Two of the best players in the squad that year.

 

I have nothing against Palace at all. I've never jumped on the 'we hate Palace' bandwagon that some on here love to ride. Like others however, I do despise Holloway, for several reasons:

- He's really, really not funny, but he thinks he is some sort of comical genius and I just don't know why. Not being funny is fine - plenty of managers aren't and I have no dislike for them. Holloway though is always trying to crack **** jokes and be the Michael McIntyre of the football world, and it's really very cringing to watch.

- Whenever he has an opportunity, he will mention and suck up to Alex Ferguson. I bet Ferguson is sick of hearing Hollow head say 'I wonder what Sir Alex thinks about this? What would Sir Alex say?' etc. It's really very cringeworthy and awkward to watch.

- As a manager, he does a shocking amount of research. On the day of the Palace game, he said he didn't realise 'how many players we have from Udinese'. Does he even bother to research Palace's opponents, or does to just prefer to complain so that he feels he has some ammunition for his post-match press conference should his team lose?

Regarding the final, I am quietly confident, actually more so that I was against Leicester. I feel that Murray being out is a lot for them to have to cope with. Even though the game is over a week and a half away, meaning that they have time to come up with an adequate game plan, he is their top scorer though, and will be missed on the 27th, of that I'm sure.

They have Zaha, Philips and Bolasie. Maybe I'm missing something here but I don't think they have nearly as much quality in their first eleven as we do. Palace fans - you can call me arrogant, ignorant etc., but one thing is for sure, we will find out if I'm right or not on the 27th. I think our quality in the centre of the park and our prowess upfront means that we should hopefully triumph on the day.

Make no mistake, Palace have had a great season, but I feel they have over-achieved this season and this may be a one-off. I am going for a Watford win.

EDIT: Forgot about Jon Wiliams, he's a good player too

 

How would Palace manage if they got to the premiership with Murray crocked and Zaha up at Man Utd? Suggest Watford would be better suited with two 20 goal plus strikers on their books.

 

I do love a good contradiction.

 

We are just a Udinese franchaise? Yes we are. We are a solid gold gift wrapped oven ready boil in the bag arm of an enormously successful footballing empire. And that's exactly why we are ready for the premiership.

You fool. Your own argument works against you.

Pozzo clubs play in Serie A and La Ligue. Soon they will also play in the Premiership.

Pozzo clubs play European football year after year.

Pozzo clubs produce, play and trade in some of the world's top players.

Pozzo clubs have returned a player trading SURPLUS of over £500M in the last 12 years. Name one 1 single football club that has created that much profit!

So the real question is, are the Pozzo's ready for the Premier league? You *****ing bet they are.

 

Also, If it isn't allowed I'm sure the Kei Kamara and Paul Scharner deals would be frowned upon. Especially as one has just won an FA Cup medal.

 

I don't think we would. I also hope we don't (and am lead to believe from the board that we won't) over spend on players to keep us there. We have maybe 5 or 6 players that could represent us in the Prem. But hey it would be fun trying and at the end of the day it is £120million which would really help us sort out Selhurst. This has come a bit early in the plan I think for Palace. We're not ready but as long as we don't think we can really compete with the big boys and try to match them with spending then there is no harm in it. We're no QPR.

And who knows with our youth setup, and good team spirit and (as much as you hate him experienced manager) we could spring a few surprises.

 

Do you know what a contradcition means buddy? Where is it here - please do show your working.

 

Or you could just not read my post and jump straight in? Chip on your shoulder maybe?

 

It was highlighted. Apparently, according to you, it isn't allowed in the Premier League but in the same post you go on to say that Palace loaned 2 from Inter. It is the same scenario, therefore you have contradicted yourself. Or is it only not allowed if lil ol' Watford do it?

 

The whole controversy is the amount of foreign loans you have. There is a limit to domestic loans from the same club not for foreign clubs in the Championship. Apparently there is a limit to loans from the same foreign club in the prem - as reported by the media. So I am correct. It is not allowed in the Prem. 2 players from one club is obviously below the limit. Maybe I wasn't clear but I kinda thought you guys would be well versed in the media circus around your loan dealings.

 

This is going to be a very, very long eleven days.

 

You are missing the point ..... they are not loans . Players coming on loan from abroad are regarded as international transfers.

I think you have seen from recent messages the strength of feeling on this board about loans. Much of this developed after Holloway's rant and apart from us the players are very much aware of what has been said. No team talk required by Zola, the team will be fully motivated and will certainly not be taking Palace for granted at all.

 

Your funny

 

Why is the NUMBER of loanees relevant? If they were all s+++ would anyone care?

You have ONE loanee that is worth £15 million of real money so at this moment he is valued higher than ALL of our loanees put together.

The ignorance around this issue is beyond funny. Just because Holloway turns up like a bumbling village idiot on game day it doesn't mean real Palace fans have to emulate him.

Every player and manager is on loan. The moment a better offer is on the table all the soundbites and badge kissing are consigned to history, the only part of a club that remains consistent through thick and thin, high and low, is the genuine, long suffering supporter

God bless the Pozzos. They saved us from relegation and gave us some of the best football ever seen at Watford and for that, and now, we are grateful.

 

In terms of squad quality, because as you say our infrastructure is no better, considering Zaha will be gone and Murray out for a large portion of the season, you'd have to feel Palace aren't ready yet. I know that sounds arrogant etc and you'll make signings but it's a colossal ask.

 

Very very few Watford fans think the match is a foregone conclusion, many quite the opposite in fact. I remember clearly the fact that Palace fans were booking trains and coaches to Cardiff in 2006 before the first leg semi final at your place, and I, and many others have never forgotten this, hence why most won't ever act like that. Please don't judge us all by the actions of a few, it is wrong.

What worries me though is what happened against Leicester. It was one in a million, a special moment and possibly as good as we're going to get. I genuinely fear we will have to pay for those magical 20 seconds in the final. Football ****s you up the backside that way, I'm too long in the tooth to think otherwise.

Whatever happens there will be goals, guaranteed.

 

me too, he is better than Zaha in my opinion.

 

I'm continually amazed that people rate Holloway. Not only did he manage to get QPR relegated, but also Leicester City in 2007/2008. Those are large clubs to take down.

He took Blackpool up, yes, but they were already doing well before he arrived. It took him 3 seasons to get QPR back into the Championship...

 

I'm expecting us to perform well. but naturally I have my concerns. We focus too much on Zaha that some unsung hero like Williams or Bolasie steps up, or that Zaha has that one last ridiculous send off and plays us off the park.

I don't like some of the 'arrogance' we appear to have collected since that Leicester game. It's like the predictions you get before Bristol City and Barnsley games, "Oh we'll win 4-0 with Fessi getting 2, easy" and then getting a nasty surprise.

The way we've been playing however, we should be ok. Whatever happens, the last few weeks have aged me several years. Nervous times.

 

I'd like to see us strengthen for the final. Just 3-4 top players to give us the edge.

 

This. In the 96th minute Leicester fans probably thought they were going to Wembley. 20 seconds later they weren't. Football is b*s**** and I for one won't assume we'll beat Palace. Anything can happen on the day. Palace are there on merit so will hard roll over and let us through.